BPA affects endocrine system and some hormones when found in large quantities. It's very cheap. Easily used. Very efficient in the sense that the only byproduct is water.
I feel like BPA is an overall good product. BPA should be left alone. I'd be willing to get rid of BPA if a new, more efficient, less harmful product was made. Although that might never happen.
Background
Bisphenol A-BPA- is a product used in almost everything we use. It is a synthetic compound that makes hard plastic, well, hard. The chemical name is 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane. It makes a substance that is clear and hard. It’s used basically in everything that isn’t metal, brick, or wood, although it might be a layer over top of them.
It is put in water bottles, baby bottles, plates and cups, Tupperware™, and almost every other thing you have in your house. Regular water bottles that you buy at the super market are good. But you can only use them one time, because harmful bacteria grow on the lip. There is BPA in water bottles, but the low levels leave the bottle porous. And all bacteria needs is some air, moisture, and a safe home.
We use BPA to make really cool things like Nalgene™ bottles. This is one of the strongest water bottles in the world. And you know why? It is PACKED with BPA. You cannot destroy one of these bottles. You could run it over with an eighteen-wheeler, and the probability of it breaking is slim. And also, because it is mostly BPA, it is not porous, which means it doesn’t grow bacteria as fast. Every country in the world uses BPA. It is the only thing (so far) that can hold products together for as long and as well as it does. Products last many years when infused with BPA.
Synthesis/Production
BPA is not found organically. It is a synthetic compound made from two chemicals related to phenol, and one chemical related to acetone. HCl is a common catalyst. In 1990, there was an act, stating that in order to reduce pollution from chemicals could not be hazardous, and reactions must be efficient. It was called “green chemistry.” So, this product, BPA, is very efficient, and the only byproduct is water.
Human Health Implications
There is almost nothing left in this world that doesn’t effect the environment in some way good or bad. Bisphenol A (BPA) does have some negative effects as well. Most of the effects harm people, and not the atmosphere because BPA is readily biodegradable. But when it is being made, low levels of BPA get into surface water, which is the main cause of it getting everywhere else that isn’t in products containing BPA.
There have been studies on BPA in fish. The results from levels that have been tested have shown to not be so harmful as to cause an immediate ban on BPA. According this site BPA has a small effect on fish living near the surface of streams and rivers. Test using 400 micrograms (and less) per liter showed no harmful affects on anything living in the water. Effects on reproductive systems in fish and amphibians have been tested using concentrations of 160 micrograms per liter and higher. Understand that there are 1,000,000,000 micrograms per liter. So this might cause some controversy, but this is the ratio of BPA getting into the water.
The effect of high levels of BPA in women affects the endocrine system. There have been studies on female mice and rats. The endocrine system is in charge of releasing hormones, so when BPA disrupts the endocrine system, people and animals will often have fluxes in metabolism rate, enter puberty much earlier or later, have problems with tissue functions, and go through massive mood swings.
Environmental Implications
The rate at which BPA degrades (quantities in products) is very slow. If somebody threw a plastic bottle onto the sidewalk, the BPA itself would take a long time to degrade, but the bonds it holds to keep the plastic in the hard form would break down first. Results of exact time of degradation were inconclusive. Although, if you put plastic into a microwave, or in a situation that might cause it to heat up about 130 degrees Celsius (266 degrees Fahrenheit), the bonds would break down, and BPA would be able to get into your system (take it that the product is something you might drink from). The flash point (temperature at which something combusts) of BPA is 227 degrees Celsius (440.6 degrees Fahrenheit), but at that point, the plastic would have melted anyway.
BPA is disposed of like normal trash. Put it into a proper waste receptacle, which will be emptied and sent to a certified landfill. Yes. Your trash goes to a landfill. It’s not where we want our waste, seeing as how, that’s where we get our nourishment. For right now, no government knows where to send the trash, so it has to go under the soil.
Economic/ Political Impact
What would happen if BPA were banned? If BPA were banned, we would not have most of the products we use every single day. Runners would not have bottles to hydrate themselves. Babies would not have bottles to get their food from. There would be nothing left. We would have to start the entire country from nothing and build it back up. It would cost the government more to ban BPA, then to pay thousands of people for damage to their endocrine system.
Our economy isn’t in very great shape compared to other major countries. The exchange rate from euros to dollars is approximately 1.53:1. And from pounds to dollars is about 2:1[1]. If we were to get rid of BPA, we would have to get rid of most household products. And what would we do with them if they banned. They wouldn’t want to put them in landfills. Throw them in the ocean? And no matter what, there would most definitely be people that wouldn’t get rid of their items. And currently, there are no alternatives to BPA.
What about international relations with countries that synthesize BPA? Many companies probably get their BPA to make their products from: companies in China, a few companies in Germany, a company in Taiwan, Estonia, and even a few in the U.S.[2]. If we cut trading ties with these countries, we might lose other products as well. Although, we get many other products from China, so I’m sure a little ban on BPA wouldn’t affect much. Germany exports: Machinery, Vehicles, Chemicals, Metals and Manufactures, Foodstuffs, Consumer electronics, Textiles, and Beer, 8.8% of which comes to America[3]. So, we would lose a lot of vehicles, machines to improve lives, food, electronics, and the good old American favorite, beer.
Summary
Overall, in large quantities, BPA may harm a person or animal. But so long as you do not purposely digest it, you'll be fine. I don't think that anything has to be done about it, but if you do, I encourage discussion. You may try to cut back on BPA usage, but in this day and age, you will never completely turn away from it.
Belcher, S. Hot liquids release potentially harmful chemicals in polycarbonate plastic bottles. Physorg.com. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from http://www.physorg.com/news120894078.html
Table of Contents
Abstract
BPA is used in almost every product. It makes hard plastic hard. It's prominently used in Nalgene© bottles as well as normal water bottles and clear plastic products. And it's used in every country.BPA affects endocrine system and some hormones when found in large quantities. It's very cheap. Easily used. Very efficient in the sense that the only byproduct is water.
I feel like BPA is an overall good product. BPA should be left alone. I'd be willing to get rid of BPA if a new, more efficient, less harmful product was made. Although that might never happen.
Background
Bisphenol A-BPA- is a product used in almost everything we use. It is a synthetic compound that makes hard plastic, well, hard. The chemical name is 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane. It makes a substance that is clear and hard. It’s used basically in everything that isn’t metal, brick, or wood, although it might be a layer over top of them.It is put in water bottles, baby bottles, plates and cups, Tupperware™, and almost every other thing you have in your house. Regular water bottles that you buy at the super market are good. But you can only use them one time, because harmful bacteria grow on the lip. There is BPA in water bottles, but the low levels leave the bottle porous. And all bacteria needs is some air, moisture, and a safe home.
We use BPA to make really cool things like Nalgene™ bottles. This is one of the strongest water bottles in the world. And you know why? It is PACKED with BPA. You cannot destroy one of these bottles. You could run it over with an eighteen-wheeler, and the probability of it breaking is slim. And also, because it is mostly BPA, it is not porous, which means it doesn’t grow bacteria as fast. Every country in the world uses BPA. It is the only thing (so far) that can hold products together for as long and as well as it does. Products last many years when infused with BPA.
Synthesis/Production
BPA is not found organically. It is a synthetic compound made from two chemicals related to phenol, and one chemical related to acetone. HCl is a common catalyst. In 1990, there was an act, stating that in order to reduce pollution from chemicals could not be hazardous, and reactions must be efficient. It was called “green chemistry.” So, this product, BPA, is very efficient, and the only byproduct is water.Human Health Implications
There is almost nothing left in this world that doesn’t effect the environment in some way good or bad. Bisphenol A (BPA) does have some negative effects as well. Most of the effects harm people, and not the atmosphere because BPA is readily biodegradable. But when it is being made, low levels of BPA get into surface water, which is the main cause of it getting everywhere else that isn’t in products containing BPA.There have been studies on BPA in fish. The results from levels that have been tested have shown to not be so harmful as to cause an immediate ban on BPA. According this site BPA has a small effect on fish living near the surface of streams and rivers. Test using 400 micrograms (and less) per liter showed no harmful affects on anything living in the water. Effects on reproductive systems in fish and amphibians have been tested using concentrations of 160 micrograms per liter and higher. Understand that there are 1,000,000,000 micrograms per liter. So this might cause some controversy, but this is the ratio of BPA getting into the water.
The effect of high levels of BPA in women affects the endocrine system. There have been studies on female mice and rats. The endocrine system is in charge of releasing hormones, so when BPA disrupts the endocrine system, people and animals will often have fluxes in metabolism rate, enter puberty much earlier or later, have problems with tissue functions, and go through massive mood swings.
Environmental Implications
The rate at which BPA degrades (quantities in products) is very slow. If somebody threw a plastic bottle onto the sidewalk, the BPA itself would take a long time to degrade, but the bonds it holds to keep the plastic in the hard form would break down first. Results of exact time of degradation were inconclusive. Although, if you put plastic into a microwave, or in a situation that might cause it to heat up about 130 degrees Celsius (266 degrees Fahrenheit), the bonds would break down, and BPA would be able to get into your system (take it that the product is something you might drink from). The flash point (temperature at which something combusts) of BPA is 227 degrees Celsius (440.6 degrees Fahrenheit), but at that point, the plastic would have melted anyway.BPA is disposed of like normal trash. Put it into a proper waste receptacle, which will be emptied and sent to a certified landfill. Yes. Your trash goes to a landfill. It’s not where we want our waste, seeing as how, that’s where we get our nourishment. For right now, no government knows where to send the trash, so it has to go under the soil.
Economic/ Political Impact
What would happen if BPA were banned? If BPA were banned, we would not have most of the products we use every single day. Runners would not have bottles to hydrate themselves. Babies would not have bottles to get their food from. There would be nothing left. We would have to start the entire country from nothing and build it back up. It would cost the government more to ban BPA, then to pay thousands of people for damage to their endocrine system.Our economy isn’t in very great shape compared to other major countries. The exchange rate from euros to dollars is approximately 1.53:1. And from pounds to dollars is about 2:1[1]. If we were to get rid of BPA, we would have to get rid of most household products. And what would we do with them if they banned. They wouldn’t want to put them in landfills. Throw them in the ocean? And no matter what, there would most definitely be people that wouldn’t get rid of their items. And currently, there are no alternatives to BPA.
What about international relations with countries that synthesize BPA? Many companies probably get their BPA to make their products from: companies in China, a few companies in Germany, a company in Taiwan, Estonia, and even a few in the U.S.[2]. If we cut trading ties with these countries, we might lose other products as well. Although, we get many other products from China, so I’m sure a little ban on BPA wouldn’t affect much. Germany exports: Machinery, Vehicles, Chemicals, Metals and Manufactures, Foodstuffs, Consumer electronics, Textiles, and Beer, 8.8% of which comes to America[3]. So, we would lose a lot of vehicles, machines to improve lives, food, electronics, and the good old American favorite, beer.
Summary
Overall, in large quantities, BPA may harm a person or animal. But so long as you do not purposely digest it, you'll be fine. I don't think that anything has to be done about it, but if you do, I encourage discussion. You may try to cut back on BPA usage, but in this day and age, you will never completely turn away from it.Link
Link to another page on BPA (same info, and author).Public Service Announcement
Bibliography
Belcher, S. Hot liquids release potentially harmful chemicals in polycarbonate plastic bottles. Physorg.com. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from http://www.physorg.com/news120894078.html
Warhurst, A. M. Bisphenol A. http://website.lineone.net/. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from http://website.lineone.net/~mwarhurst/bisphenol.html
Bisphenol A. Bisphenol A | Bisphenol A FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved February 11, 2008, from http://www.bisphenol-a.org/about/faq.html